Cavs, Heat Both Deep In Jimmy Butler Trade Talks

25 September 2018

The deal will pay Towns, 22, more than he could make with any other team under a rule in the collective bargaining agreement that allows teams to pay a home-grown player coming off his rookie contract 35 percent of the National Basketball Association salary cap.

If Butler remains in Minnesota, it could present an extremely awkward situation given that his relationship with Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins is reportedly fractured at this point.

The shortlist of three has now grown to 12 potential teams willing to swing a deal for Butler, giving Minnesota's brass more options than they initially had.

"To win 47 games?" Now the team is back in the building for 2018 Media Day.

With the Spurs and Lakers makng the biggest splashes this offseason with getting DeMar DeRozan and LeBron James, they should be the most realistic teams to acquire Butler out of the five in this post that will actually re-sign him next offseason.

Despite the presence of Wolves point guards Jeff Teague (who the Cavs could also ask for in a trade) and Derrick Rose, Sexton would likely be the main piece in a trade for Butler.

Thibodeau and general manager Scott Layden - who brought his cellphone to the podium just in case he received any important calls or texts involving Butler - distanced themselves from reports that they aren't on the same page with Taylor concerning Butler. Thibodeau did concede that there's never an ideal time to have to trade a player of Butler's magnitude.

Overall, those trade ideas didn't necessarily make anyone excited for a deal to happen anytime soon. "I think Jimmy understands, and the team understands", Thibodeau said.